The Habitat Of Javan Lutung In Muaragembong Bekasi Is Threatened

JAKARTA - The primate habitat of the Javan Lutung in Pantai Bahagia Village, Muaragembong District, Bekasi Regency, West Java is threatened due to the shrinking of the mangrove tree area which is one of their sources of food and habitat.

"There are not enough mangrove trees for them (Javanese monkeys) to live. Because there are still land clearing for ponds," said Deputy Chair of the Pantai Bahagia Village Tourism Awareness Group, Ahmad Qurtubi in Bekasi, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, December 8.

He explained that the area of mangrove trees which is the habitat of 100 animals, scientifically named Trachypithecus Auratus, currently only has 14 hectares left from the original 40 hectares.

"Now it's about five to seven hectares in the north, in the south it's the same. A total of 14 hectares are left. In the past, around 1980, the habitat of the Javan Lutung in Muara Bendera Village was more than 40 hectares," he said.

Qurtubi admitted that a small group of Javan Lutung consisted of seven to 10 individuals. Ideally a small group of animals that need 12 hectares of land for them to survive.

"That's based on the results of our comparative study with primate observers in Ciwidey Bandung. Ideally, 12 hectares for a small group of Javan Lutung can survive," he said.

The secretary of Pantai Bahagia Village also said that apart from habitat loss, the Javan Lutung population is also being threatened due to increasingly massive hunting even though the animal is categorized as protected by the government.

"Currently, there are 55 tails in the north, 40 in the south. The population has increased by five to six individuals every year in the two locations since 2013. Previously it was only about 20 to 30 individuals. Hunting has always been a scourge but we as environmental activists together with the residents will keep it up," he said.

The existence of the Javan Lutung in its territory is still a tourist attraction to this day. Unfortunately it is not supported by legality and adequate facilities.

"There are several things that need to be done to support the existence of the Javan Lutung as a favorite tourist destination. First, there must be a determination of the langur conservation area and its habitat, secondly, infrastructure must be built to support the target of educational tourism areas," he said.